With Sir Clive Woodward starting to make the final changes to his forty-four man squad for the summer tour to New Zealand, Ruddock says all his players deserve to go to after arguably the most successful two months in Welsh rugby history. "You'll see ten plus Welsh players go on the Lions tour," Ruddock predicted. "Actually, ten is an absolute minimum, and I'd like to think a lot more than that will make it." Two years ago, Wales were holding the RBS Six Nations wooden spoon, now they have to build a new trophy cabinet. Ruddock and his men secured the Grand Slam for the first time since 1978, the Championship trophy for the first time since 1994 and the Triple Crown for the first time since 1988. Ruddock revealed that a pre-Championship newspaper report that said no Welsh player would make the Lions Test team was used to inspire his men. "We pinned that up on the wall, I think it helped the guys to focus!" he continued. "This is just the beginning, though. We ambushed a few teams this year because we had been written off as no-hopers, but they'll be ready for us next time. Everyone wants to beat us now - and that's a challenge this team has to adapt to. "We want to get this team peaking for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, that's the one everyone wants to win. There will be a lot of work going into the team before then." Ruddock said he was excited about Wales's Autumn International itinerary, with the prospect of playing all three Tri-Nations sides one week after the other.

"That's going to be a real test for us," he said. "There's a great team spirit here and hopefully a lot of the guys will be coming back from the Lions tour with so much more experience and knowledge."

Among the Welsh certainties for the Lions tour is loosehead prop Gethin Jenkins, who capped a superb RBS Six Nations with a match-breaking try against Ireland on Saturday. Wales's new prop idol says his early days as a youth footballer came in handy as he scored the crucial first half try.

Jenkins charged down Ronan O'Gara's clearing kick and toed the ball ahead before diving on it as the Millennium Stadium erupted.

"I got a lucky bounce," said Jenkins, who once played youth football against Wales and West Brom star Robert Earnshaw, who chimed in with a hat trick against Charlton on Saturday.

"I'd been watching O'Gara and guessed he was going to kick, and I just timed it right. The ball started getting away from me and I could feel someone breathing down my neck, but I managed to get there in time."

Wales reached their first semi-final since 2013 in the opening round of this season's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai. WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie recaps on what proved to be an eventful tournament

Wales and Ospreys back row James King, who came through the North Wales age grade system, nominated North Wales Regional Community Rugby Manager Marc Roberts, in the WRU's 'Diolch' initiative where squad players thanked those who played a part in their rise to the top.

Beating Merthyr has boosted Carmarthen Quins hopes of reaching a top eight spot in the Principality Premiership. Quins captain Haydn Pugh is delighted with his team's progress and is determined that everyone from the Under 6s through to the senior team, enjoys the ride.

When the Wales squad were asked to nominate individuals who played a big part in their early playing days, Wales and Dragons full back and wing Hallam Amos thought of his former Monmouth School rugby coach John Bevan.

Sam Cross and Luke Treharne have been named as co-captains of the Wales Sevens side as head coach Gareth Williams names his 12-man squad to play in the first leg of the HSBC World Series in Dubai next weekend.

Bedwas head coach Steve Law and players Nicky Griffiths and Alun Rees extol the virtues of the close knit club as they prepare to host third place RGC 1404 - who are one place head of them on the Principality Premiership points table - on Saturday.

Many of the Wales squad have said Diolch (thank you) to someone who played an important part in their early playing days by nominating them to be invited to the Wales v South Africa match. One person, Gowerton Comprehensive geography teacher Mr Dean Mason was nominated by two of his former pupils, Dan Biggar and Sam Davies.

The second WRU disability rugby pilot has been delivered, this time in Caerphilly schools, culminating in a festival at the Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach tomorrow. Plans are in place to set up a Disability Rugby Club in Newbridge to provide long-term playing opportunities.

WRU TV: Hear from inside the Wales camp as Neil Jenkins discusses this weekend's clash with South Africa and how the squad are looking to put in a strong performance to round of the 2016 Under Armour Series